Tobacco,
whether smoked or chewed, is now widely considered an
addictive and dangerous drug. However as its impact on
consciousness is slight most Buddhists do not consider
smoking to be breaking the fifth Precept. In Burma
and Japan smoking by monks is common as it is in Thailand
amongst monks of the Mahanikaya sect. In Sri
Lanka and amongst Tibetans and Chinese smoking by
monks is looked down upon and they usually refrain from
it. So from the Buddhist perspective smoking may well
be unwise but is does not have a moral dimension.